The Volpe Center seeks a Supervisory Mechanical Engineer to serve as Chief in the Structures and Dynamics Division. As the Division Chief, you will oversee the work done by the Division, supervise the technical and administrative staff, and manage and expand the portfolio work. This Division’s function is to provide research services regarding the safety and performance of the ground transportation system by applying engineering expertise in the areas of vehicle-guideway dynamics, mechanics of wear, fatigue and fracture, soil mechanics, vehicle crash-worthiness and impact energy management, and other technologies and policies associated with safety.

When you work with us at the Volpe Center you work with people like you—talented professionals who enjoy applying their expertise in the service of others and resolving real-world transportation problems. We are located in Kendall Square, the technology hub of the culturally diverse and academically rich city of Cambridge, Mass., just five minutes from downtown Boston. The Volpe Center is located near public transportation, and provides employees a flexible and family-friendly work environment. We offer competitive benefits, with on-site facilities that include a cafeteria, fitness center, covered bicycle parking, professionally-staffed health center, and on-site child-care services.

The ideal candidate for this assignment will have experience in providing leadership in projects that provide engineering, analytical, and research support to surface transportation decision-making at all levels of government and industry and experience leading high-performing, multi-disciplinary technical teams. The candidate will also have an in-depth knowledge of research within the surface transportation environment, working with and providing critical analytical and research support to rail, highway, truck safety, pipeline and other sponsors. Within the railway operating environment, the candidate should have knowledge of vehicle-guideway dynamics; mechanics of wear, fatigue and fracture; soil mechanics; vehicle crash-worthiness and impact energy management; and other aspects of rail safety topics. Additionally, the candidate will have strong leadership, personnel management, communication, consulting, sponsor relationship, interpersonal and problem-solving skills. Significant experience in direct management of staff and programs is required. The candidate will have the ability to lead, direct, develop and mentor staff, to work with high-level agency officials and sponsors, and to effectively and collaboratively within a management team. Experience in a fee-for-service environment is desirable.

We are working on creating the job posting and expect it to post on USA Jobs shortly. Interested applicants will need to apply to the posting through the USAJobs.gov website. Once the position is posted we will update the necessary information on this site.

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/491557000

All qualifications and requirements will be provided in the announcement postings. We expect the announcements to be posted in the coming weeks. Once the position is posted live on-line at USAJobs.gov we will update this site to include the links to the announcement. NOTE: All interested applicants will need to apply to the posting on USAJobs.gov. E-mail applications are not accepted.

Internal Number: OST.RVOLPE-2018-0043

About The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

The John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is an innovative, fee-for-service organization within the U.S Department of Transportation (DOT). We work primarily for DOT, as well as other federal agencies and state, local, and international entities by providing comprehensive technical, analytical, and institutional support in the development and improvement of transportation and logistics systems. Our mission is to serve as a catalyst for change in the development of solutions to transportation problems and the application of innovative technologies and operational practices to make the transportation system safer, effective, and efficient.